What the Bible says about light and seed

The True Light "In him, (the Lord Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world,…the world didn’t recognize him." John 1:4,9.

The Good Seed and the Weeds “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seeds in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.”Matthew 13:24,25.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Reports
nationwide are outlining how purported churches across the country are
being pulled in by one of the latest societal crazes: Pokemon Go, a
mobile game that has users on their feet and out on the town in an
effort to capture Pokemon characters at various “PokeStops” set by the
game’s creators.

Gamers seek to “catch ’em all” as they scout out various Pokemon
creatures—some comical, some crabby—such as a Weedle, a Jigglypuff, a
Poliwag, a Hypno, a Jynx and Vaporeon. Users may find Pokemon eggs at
PokeStops, which will “hatch” when the player walks a certain distance,
or they may throw a PokeBall to catch spotted Pokemon.According to reports, the game, which was rolled out earlier this month, currently has over 7.5 million daily users.

As number of congregations have discovered that they have been set up
as “PokeStops” or “gym,” many have decided to play along along with
gamers by posting on the signs outside their houses or worship, “Poke
stop here!” or “We are a PokeStop. Get supplies outside; find Jesus
inside.”

In other words, some assemblies have announced to players, “We’re
game.” Christian-identified blogs are consequently posting about how
church leaders can use the foot traffic to attract the lost to their
assembly or to accommodate existing members.Aaron Earls of the blog “The Wardrobe Door” wrote on July 11, “You
probably don’t want your student pastor spending his entire day playing
Pokemon on your front steps, so put up a sign to let players know they
can come inside.”“If it is hot, people will be thankful to step inside and hang out in
an air conditioned area while they pick up some items, see what Pokemon
are around or battle a gym leader,” he said. “If AC won’t bring someone
inside the doors, maybe some free pizza and a soft drink will.”Earls suggested that assemblies advertise a set “Pokemon day” at their house of worship.“Players can come and hang out in the church, get free food, and talk about their latest catches,” he wrote.

Earls also outlined in an article for the Washington Post entitled
“Come for Jigglypuff, Stay for Jesus: Church in the Age of Pokémon Go”
that Pokemon has become a theme of discussion among members of his
church—as well as a potential distraction.“Before we started our class Sunday, the young adults I teach wanted
to talk Pokemon Go. We shared our best catches and embarrassing
failures. Before I began the lesson, I joked, ‘Don’t play during class
unless you see a rare Pokemon. Then you have to let me know, so I can
catch it, too,'” he wrote.

“But for a few, the temptation was too great. They didn’t want to
miss any Pokemon that might virtually wander in while we talked Bible,”
Earls acknowledged.Ridge Community Church in Greenville, Wisconsin even distributed a
free Pokemon collectible to players during its Thursday night “happy
hour.”LudyBut
while some believe that Christians should use the cultural phenomenon
as an opportunity to build bridges with the unchurched, others note that
the biblical Church was never meant to use carnal means to win the
lost.

“For the Church to dish out the pablum of the world that can be
picked up on every street corner (or in this case, on every mobile
device) only serves to diminish the quality, the power, and the
integrity of the amazing life-changing truth we have to offer,” Eric
Ludy, pastor of the Church at Ellerslie and president of Ellerslie
Mission Society in Windsor, Colorado, told Christian News Network.

“The simple rule of thumb is this: If we compete with the world with
worldly means, the world will always best us. The Church only wins when
it labors God’s way, with God’s truth, power, purity, love and
ingenuity,” he said.

Ludy stated that he sees the Pokemon craze as being “emblematic of
the current drift of the Christian culture.” And while some professing
Christians see frittering away their time playing the game as a personal
liberty since they do not consider Pokemon to be intrinsically sinful,
Ludy noted that there are much better ways for Christians to spend their
fleeting lives.

“Long and short, a maturing Christian doesn’t ask the question, ‘What
can I get away with?’ but rather, ‘What can I do to love my God more?'”
he explained. “I think many immature Christians right now are seeking
to justify their petty addictions instead of allowing some good
soul-searching questions to reverberate in their souls. We have one life
to live for Jesus Christ. Is this really how we should be spending our
time?”

A Christmas Reflection from the Light Seed

This is a Christmas message that I repost every year because of its timelessness. I hope that it will bless you and that the seeds of love, truth, hope and joy planted in your heart by the Lord will flourish as Aaron´s almond rod of authority and service and nourish the hungry and thirsty around us.

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Copyright. Droits d'Auteurs. Rediffusion. Direitos Autorais

I claim no right as an author. I didn't create the mind, my brain, my hands, nor any of my senses through which I perceive the world around me. Therefore, I invite anybody if you see any benefit or blessing in the posts, to print, reproduce or distribute the contents of this blog I wrote personally. Jesus said: "Freely you have received, freely give". John the Baptist said: "One can receive only what has been given him from above". I would suggest you ask for spiritual discernment with checking in the Word of God what is right, true, noble, pure, lovely, beneficial as coming from God. I am just offering and sharing free of any restrictions the things that I deem worthy of passing on to any one willing to spend a little time and walk with me along life's highway so we can learn and grow together. Give thanks to and Praise God for the wonderful things he has done.

The Joshua Tree - An original parable/allegory by this blogger.

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God (Genesis 21:33). Here is old Abraham just planting a tree and living by his well. Why are we told this? It is symbolic of what is taking place in his heart and life. The tree immediately brings to mind Psalm 1, which says the man of God will be like a tree planted by rivers of living water, bringing forth its fruit in season. Here is a life that is fruitful, that is concerned about those immediately around and is pouring out blessing into their lives and hearts. Excerpts from Ray Stedman´s devotion: "This Thirsty World" https://www.raystedman.org/daily-devotions/genesis-12to25/this-thirsty-world

Original Love Poems by this Blogger

Excellent Free Bible Software

Now you can download an excellent Bible software on your PC and/or your USB flash drive. It contains easy to navigate and efficient interface, free add-ons modules, Bibles in English, foreign languages, Dictionaries, Commentaries, everything you need to help you study the Bible.

Testimony/Sermon of an Abortion Survivor

SUICIDE WATCH

I am sure most of you have known at some time in your life a person who wanted or attempted to end their life or succeeded in doing so. Personally, I have known a number of such people. I, myself had such an episode as an adolescent.

More and more I am reading and hearing about people young, old, male, female, gender and age don´t matter that add their lives to this problem of epidemic proportion in our society. Whatever the cause, we can all do something however small to save lives.

No need to have a psych. degree or to be licensed. An understanding heart, a listening ear is sometimes all that it takes to help weaker, more sensitive people overcome the hopelessness that drives fellow human beings to discard the gift of human life.

Please, take a few minutes to read below the few examples and testimonies about suicide. And please pass it on, if that´s all you feel inclined to do. Thank you.

HE INVITES SUICIDE JUMPERS FOR A CUP OF TEA

Don Ritchie moved to a house outside Sydney, Australia, for the clifftop view. But soon he was stopping suicides by inviting potential jumpers inside for a cup of tea.

Don Ritchie has been awarded a medal for bravery and an Order of Australia (the nation’s second highest honor) for averting hundreds of would-be suicides by approaching people and offering them a cup of tea. ‘I used to sell kitchen scales and bacon cutters,’ he says. Now, ‘I’m trying to sell people life.’